Narita is about 60 km from central Tokyo, so the ride you pick decides when you arrive. Choose the one that fits your hotel before you land.
Checked: 2026.11.08
EntryVisit Japan WebOne QR for immigration and customs · JESTA not yet in effect
FastestSkyliner ~36 minTo Nippori · ¥2,580 at the station / ¥2,310 online
CheapestAirport bus ¥1,500TYO-NRT to Tokyo Station
Tax-freeNew rules Nov 2026Pay tax in store, refund at the airport when you leave
STEP 1 · BEFORE YOU FLY
Before you fly: Visit Japan Web
Register immigration and customs details in Visit Japan Web (VJW) before you fly, and a single QR code covers both. Add your passport, hotel address and flight in advance.
Narita and Kansai have joint kiosks that read immigration and customs data in one step, but foreign visitors still see an immigration officer in person.
Japan's pre-travel authorization (JESTA) is planned for around 2028 and is not in effect yet.
From 1 November 2026 tax-free shopping works differently: you pay tax at the shop and get it refunded at the airport when you leave (within 90 days, at terminals in the departure lobby before bag drop).
STEP 2 · TERMINAL
Check your terminal
Narita has Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and airlines use different ones (Asiana, for example, uses Terminal 1 South Wing). Check your arrival terminal on your ticket or airline app. Train stations are under Terminals 1 and 2.
STEP 3 · BAGGAGE
Immigration and baggage
The order is immigration → baggage claim → customs. At customs, scan your Visit Japan Web QR at the kiosk or e-gate.
Bag didn't arrive? Report it before you pass customs, at your airline's baggage service counter in the baggage claim hall. Keep your bag tag and the report, and photograph both.
STEP 4 · TRANSPORT
Getting into Tokyo
Option
To
Time
Fare
Skyliner
Nippori / Keisei-Ueno
~36 / 41 min
¥2,580 at station · ¥2,310 online
N'EX (Narita Express)
Tokyo · Shinjuku · Shibuya
Tokyo Station from 53 min
~¥3,140 one way · visitor round trip ¥5,200 (14 days)
On the Skyliner, tapping an IC card covers only the base fare; you also need the ¥1,300 Skyliner ticket, or you pay a penalty.
N'EX fares may have changed after JR East's March 2026 fare rise, so check before you ride.
On the last TYO-NRT bus you pay on board in cash or Suica/PASMO only (no credit cards).
Fixed-fare taxis add a late-night surcharge from 22:00 to 05:00.
STEP 5 · DATA & CASH
Data and cash
There's free airport Wi-Fi, but an eSIM bought before you fly is the easiest way to navigate the moment you land.
Cards are widely accepted, but some restaurants are cash only, so withdraw a little yen at the airport.
Transit cards (Suica, PASMO) also work in phone wallets.
STEP 6 · LATE NIGHT
Landing late at night
Narita is far from the city, so the last train matters most. Check your line's last departure before you fly. TYO-NRT runs separate late-night and early-morning buses (¥3,000). Miss them and a fixed-fare taxi is the fallback, but it's expensive, so an airport hotel night is worth considering.
Get this guide matched to your own flight in the TripKeyGo app
Add your flight and we walk you through the terminal, baggage, transport into town and your hotel, one alert at a time. iOS and Android apps launch in 2027.